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Venturing

Provided with permission from the Chicago Sun-Times:

SCOUTS READY FOR NEW WORLD ORDER

America's new war on terrorism demonstrates why the Boy Scouts of
America
program is more relevant than ever. Are we all as prepared as the
scouts for
the threats of the 21st century?

Recently, the media published lists of items every household should
have for
an emergency preparedness kit. Our household already has every item on
the list plus, a few others from a scouting program on emergency
preparedness. Do you know the best way to escape a burning building?

Scouts do. Scouts learn fire safety and preparedness.

How well do you know first aid? Last May one of our scouters was
unexpectedly called upon to render first aid in a remote location
before
transporting the injured for professional care. Later, the paramedic ranger
visited our camp and
complimented us on the quality of the dressing.

Water supply contaminated? One of the first things a scout learns is
the many
ways to make water safe for drinking. Many scout families already
have water
filters at home for camping that filter out the bacteria and viruses.

If the transportation system breaks down, how well would you be able
to
travel? Scouts learn how to travel long distances on foot quite
comfortably.
They call it backpacking.

If your electricity or gas becomes disrupted, how would you cook a
meal? One
of the first things a scout
learns is how to cook over a wood fire. I have had many gourmet
meals on
scout trips.

Most youths join the scouting program for the fun and not
specifically to
learn survivor skills for adulthood. As one of our old Boy Scout
Commissioners described in a speech, when he was a Scoutmaster in the
1960's, many of his scouts went to Vietnam. They all returned.

If you want your family prepared for the new threats of the 21st
Century,
have your son join Boy Scouts. Have your teen daughters join a scout
Venture
patrol.

Today Scouting is more relevant that ever before.

Edward Ronkowski, Mokena, IL

(NOTE: Venturing is the Boy Scouts of America's program for teenaged youth, male and female. The Venturing program is organized differently than a Boy Scout Troop, with a Crew instead of Patrols. We are sure that the writer intended for females to become members of Venturing Crews since females may not serve as members of Boy Scout Venture Patrols in a Troop.

We thank the Chicago Sun-Times for allowing us to share this column with all of you and ask you NOT to forward or copy this story to Scouting forums or groups... Please copy the URL as we do NOT have permission to distribute this story but merely to place it as an additional tool to assist your units in recruiting and retaining youth members.)